POMONA, Calif. -- Brittany Force appeared to escape serious injury in a wall-banging crash Sunday in the season-opening Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals.
NHRA said the defending Top Fuel season champion "was responsive, speaking with medical staff and was transported to the hospital for evaluation."
The 31-year-old Force, the daughter of Funny Car great John Force, was racing against Terry Haddock in the first round of eliminations.
Force's John Force Racing dragster veered right just off the start, shot to the left -- crossing in front of Haddock -- and slammed into the left wall. It spun with the tangled parachute catching the nose and hit backward into the right wall, flipping on its side.